SquareMeal and Champagne AYALA are proud to announce that the winner of this year’s Female Chef of the Year award is Amber Francis, the head chef and senior food educator of Christ's College Finchley in London.
Francis joins an impressive roster of past winners, including Adejoké Bakare (Chishuru), Roberta Hall-McCarron (Eleanore, Ardfern and The Little Chartroom), Lisa Goodwin-Allen (Northcote and Rosi at The Beaumont), Sally Abe (The Bull Charlbury), Skye Gyngell (Spring), and Angela Hartnett (Murano).
This year’s shortlist featured Abby Lee of Mambow in London, Ruth Hansom of Hansom in Bedale, North Yorkshire, Hand and Flowers head chef Sarah Hayward, and Kyu Jeong Jeon, chef and co-founder of Bokman and Dongnae in Bristol.
Amber Francis’ journey has been anything but conventional. Having honed her craft in some of Britain’s most esteemed kitchens - including The Ritz, The Hand and Flowers, and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons - Francis made headlines when she pivoted from fine dining to food education, becoming head chef and senior food educator at Christ’s College Finchley.
Her decision to focus on food education and community engagement has made her a leading voice in the national conversation around school food reform, sustainability, and accessibility. Earlier this year, she became the first school chef to be crowned Great British Menu’s Champion of Champions – an achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that she discovered she was pregnant halfway through filming.
Speaking about her win, Francis said: 'It’s an honour to receive the Female Chef of the Year Award 2025. To be recognised among the incredible women leading the way in the food industry - while pursuing my passion for supporting communities and becoming a mother in the same year - makes this especially meaningful.
'Historically, mothers in the food industry have lacked support and often been forced to step away, so to continue doing what I love while representing women at the top of their game is something I’m deeply proud of.'
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Female Chef of the Year 2025 Amber Francis with judges Ellie Donnell and Roberta Hall-McCarron. Photography: Laurie Fletcher
Recognising female excellence in hospitality
Now in its seventh year, the Female Chef of the Year Award was launched in 2018 to celebrate women whose achievements are inspiring change across the restaurant world. Winners are chosen via a public nomination process and a final judging panel that included former winners Sally Abé and Roberta Hall-McCarron, SquareMeal Managing Editor Ellie Donnell, SquareMeal Restaurants Editor Pete Dreyer, and Champagne AYALA’s Laurence Alamanos and Elise Mather.
Commenting on Francis's win, SquareMeal Managing Editor Ellie Donnell said: ‘Our Female Chef of the Year 2025 shortlist is bursting at the seams with inspirational chefs, reflecting the incredible pool of talent we have here in the UK right now. Choosing a winner is never easy, but Amber Francis’ impact on the industry is impossible to ignore. Her move from working in Michelin starred-kitchens to becoming Head Chef and Senior Food Educator at Christ’s College Finchley not only underlines her passion for food and community, but also sets a new precedent for restaurant chefs moving into education.
Combined with becoming the first school chef to win the title of Great British Menu’s Champion of Champions this year, Amber occupies a truly unique position in the food world. She is a phenomenal chef, an advocate for positive change, and a mentor to the younger generation, and it is a pleasure to be able to highlight her incredible career to date through SquareMeal and AYALA’s awards.’
Laurence Alamanos of Champagne AYALA adds: ‘At Champagne AYALA, we are proud to support this Award, which shines a spotlight on the extraordinary talent and impact of female chefs - not only in their kitchens but also in the wider community. It’s a true honour to present the 2025 Award to Amber Francis, who embodies this spirit. Swapping Michelin stars for school dinners, Amber has become a leading voice in the national conversation around school food reform, sustainability, and food education. We raise a glass to her, the highlighted chefs, and the remarkable female talent shaping the UK restaurant industry.’
Read more about our AYALA Female Chef of the Year awards, including past interviews with the likes of April-Lily Partridge, Adriana Cavita, and Chantelle Nicholson.